Ore-leaching apparatus.



no. 699,799. Paume-d nec. 24, |9o|. n. L. snAvEs..

` om; LEAcHms APPARATUS.l

(Amnlunzitmmed Apr. 25, 1901.)

(l0 Model.)

W/ TNE SSE S /N VE N TOH A TToH/Vfys UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

RALPH L. GRAVES, OF SUMPTER, OREGON.

oR-LEACHING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 689,799, dated December24, 1901. Approfitta filed April 25,1901. strinse. 57,434. cronicas T0LZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH L. GRAVES, residing at Sumpter, in thecountyof Baker and State of Oregon, have made certain new and usefulImprovements in Ore-Separating Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention is an improvement in apparatus for use in separating oresand by which to effect the recovery of the precious lnetals from theirores and more especially from slimy ores, andthe invention providesmeans wherebyy to agitato the pulp in the tank by means of a lsuitablepump, the suction and discharge of which may both be within the sametank; and the invention consists in certain novel constructions andcombinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of anapparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 isr a detail section on aboutline 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional View illustrating theform of couplings employed in the discharge-pipes, and

Fig. 4t shows a simple threaded form of coupling which may be employed.

`In carrying out my invention the pulp is introduced in the tank and asolution of cyanid of potassium or other solvent is added, and then thepump is started andthe agitation commences, as will be more fullydescribed.

The tank A may be of the ordinary construction and I may employ aplurality or battery of these tanks. I have shown two tanks A side byside, with the pump B between them, the latter being shown as acentrifugal pump,with the discharge-pipe D leading from it and thesupply-pipe C leading to it. The suction-pipe C may be of pipe-valvesand hose and ispreferably in the form of a flexible hose, so it can bereadily shifted from tank to tank and removed from the tanks wheneverdesired. The discharge-pipe D is provided with branches D and D2,leading to the opposite tanks, and each of these branches is providedwith a depending discharge-pipe E, provided within the tank with a oneor more way nozzle F. The discharge-pipes E are swiveled to theirsupporting-pipes so they can be turned axially on the joint at 1 and lcan be swung in a vertical plane on the joint at 2, a lever G beingsecured to the dischargepipe soit can be readily turned, and a rope Hbeing connected with said pipe nearits lower dotted lines, Fig. 2, outof the slimewhenever desired. At d and d2 I provide valves controllingythe branches D and D2, so the said branches can be shut off wheneverdesired. If now it be desired to operate within the tank at the right inFig. 1, the valve d2 may be be operated to draw the slimeV through thesuction-pipe C out of the tank and force it through the branch D2, andthence through its discharge-pipe and nozzle backinto the tank,leffecting a'thorough agitation of the slime, and this agitation vmay becontinued as long as necessary. Then the suction-pipe can be raised fromthe tank and the dischargepipe swungon its swivel to the dotted-lineposition shown in Fig. 2, so it will not become choked while thecontents of the tank are settling. When the slimes have settled, theclear metals precipitated by any of the well-known methods. I ordinarilyuse a little lime to settle the slimes.

By means of my apparatus the agitation can be stopped and resumedat'pleasure in the same tank, for there is nothing to become cloggedwhen the agitation is stopped. The clear huid can be drawn from theagitationtank when desired; but little power is required for theagitation, and by supporting the disall portions of the contents of thetank can be agitated by properly directing the nozzle, thus insuring acomplete agitation of the entire charge of the tank.

. The apparatus will be found useful with f wet or dry material, and anydesired number of tanks can be connected with the same pump by means ofthe arrangement of the pipes and valves as shown, it being understoodthat in agitating the contents of one tank the discharge-pipes leadingto the other tanks should be shut off by properly manipulating theirvalves.

In Figs. l, 2, and 3 the joints at l and 2 are secured by means ofsuitable stufting-boxes having packing and glands; but manifestly openedand the valve d closed and the pump solution may be drawn oil and theprecious end so it can be swung up, as indicated in charge pipe andnozzle in the manner shown IOO where desired the Ls connecting thehorizontal pipes with the vertical discharge-pipes may be connected, asshown in Fig. 4, by ordinary threaded joints and the discharge-pipe beturned or swung on the threads in the manner before described.

Having thus vdescribed my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

l. z The herein-described apparatus for use in extracting ores, the sameconsisting of a plurality of tanks, a pump, a discharge-pipe leadingfrom said pump and having a plurality of branches leading to the severaltanks and provided each with a discharge pipe which maybe turned axiallyor swung vertically, valves controlling the several branches, and aexible supply or suction pipe leading to the pump and arranged to beshifted from tank to tank, levers connected with the severaldischarge-pipes whereby they may be turned axially, and means connectedwith the lower ends of the discharge-pipes whereby they may be swungvertically all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination in an apparatus substantially as described of a tank,a pump, a suction or supply pipe leading from the tank to the pump, anda discharge-pipe leading from the pumpinto the tank and having withinthe tank a discharge-pipe having supports which permit it to be turnedaxially or swung vertically substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the tank, the pump, the suction-pipe leading fromthe tank to the essence pump, and the discharge-pipe leading from thepump and having a lateral branch and a depending branch swiveled toy thelateral branch whereby it may be swung vertically, the said dependingbranch being arranged to be turned axially substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with the tank of the discharge-pipe having a lateralbranch, an upright branch in the tank, and an L connecting the saidbranches and arranged to turn relatively to both the said brancheswhereby to permit the turning and swinging of the upright branchsubstantially as set forth.

5. The combination of a plurality of tanks, a pump having a supply orsuction pipe shiftable from one to the other of said tanks anddischarge-pipes leading to the several tanks and provided with valvesand with movable discharge branches and with means whereby the lattermay be operated substantially as set forth. A

6. The combination of the tank, the pump having the supply orsuctionpipe leading from the tank, and the discharge-pipe leading from the pumpto the tank and provided with a depending braneh arranged to be rotatedwithin the tank and provided with a nozzle, and the lever fixed to thesaid rotatable branch whereby the latter may be turned substantially asset forth.

RALPH L. GRAVES.

Witnesses:

N. C. RICHARDS, E. T. FREEMAN.

